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NHL Capsules: Rangers move into first place at expense of fading Jets

New York Rangers forward Derek Stepan (21), forward Marian Gaborik (10), and forward Ryan Callahan (24) celebrate Stepan\'s goal against the Winnipeg Jets during third period NHL action in Winnipeg on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Author: The Hockey News

News

NHL Capsules: Rangers move into first place at expense of fading Jets

WINNIPEG - Ryan Callahan and Michael Del Zotto each had a goal and an assist, and the New York Rangers moved to the top of the NHL standings with a 4-2 victory over the fading Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night.

Brian Boyle and Derek Stepan also scored, and Marian Gaborik added a pair of assists for the Rangers (49-21-7), who lead Pittsburgh by five points in the Eastern Conference. New York is tied with Western Conference-leading St. Louis with 105 points, but the Rangers have the edge because of one more non-shootout victory.

Spencer Machacek and Bryan Little scored for the Jets (35-34-9), who are 10th in the East with 76 points. Winnipeg went 0-4 against New York this season.

Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves for the Rangers, who swept a two-game trip following a win at Minnesota on Tuesday. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 24 shots for Winnipeg.

It was the second straight 1-0 win for the Canucks, who beat Los Angeles on Monday night behind top goalie Roberto Luongo.

Higgins' first-period tally was his third goal in four games against the Avalanche.

Schneider, 11-1-1 since Christmas, earned his third shutout of the season. Luongo has four.

Vancouver moved within two points of conference-leading St. Louis with five games remaining.

BLUE JACKETS 4, RED WINGS 2

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—Allen York stopped 29 shots and earned his first NHL victory in an emergency start, and Columbus beat the Red Wings after being routed by them in Detroit two days earlier.

Columbus' top goalie Steve Mason was injured Wednesday morning when he was struck in the mask by a shot from teammate Colton Gillies. With Curtis Sanford already out with a leg injury, the Blue Jackets turned to York, who spent time this season in ECHL and American Hockey League. York made his eighth appearance and second start for the Blue Jackets.

Vinny Prospal and Derek Dorsett scored in the first period, and Derick Brassard and R.J. Umberger added goals in the second. York allowed Niklas Kronwall's power-play goal that made it 4-2 at 9:34 of the third, but stopped 17 shots in the period to hold on for the win.

Detroit, which beat the Blue Jackets 7-2 at home on Monday, also got a first-period goal from Henrik Zetterberg.

DUCKS 3, SHARKS 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—Teemu Selanne scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, Jonas Hiller made 28 saves, and Anaheim dealt a blow to San Jose's playoff hopes.

Bobby Ryan also scored and Corey Perry scored his 36th goal of the season into an empty net for the Ducks, who were eliminated from playoff contention during their fifth win in six meetings with their California rivals this season.

Anaheim also knocked the Sharks out of first place in the Pacific Division as Dallas (89 points) moved ahead of San Jose (88), Los Angeles (88) and Phoenix (87) in a remarkable four-team race for a division title and just three probable playoff spots.

The Sharks' loss also clinched a playoff berth for the Nashville Predators, who are fifth in the Western Conference.

Ryane Clowe scored and Antti Niemi stopped 24 shots for the Sharks, who had won three straight.

STARS 3, OILERS 1

EDMONTON (AP)—Michael Ryder scored two goals and added an assist to lift Dallas over Edmonton and to the top of the crowded Pacific Division.

Mike Ribeiro also scored and had two assists for the Stars (42-30-5), who moved back into first place in the Pacific—one-point ahead of Los Angeles and San Jose, and two points in front of Phoenix. Each team has five games remaining.

Ales Hemsky had the lone goal for the Oilers (31-37-9), who were 5-0-2 in their previous seven games.

KINGS 3, FLAMES 0

CALGARY (AP)—Jonathan Quick stopped 19 shots for his team-record ninth shutout of the season and Los Angeles beat Calgary to move into the eighth place in the Western conference.

Willie Mitchell, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams scored for the Kings (38-27-12), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Anze Kopitar had two assists.

With eight shutouts, Quick had been tied with Rogie Vachon, who set the Kings' mark in the 1976-77 season.

The Kings blanked their opponents for the 10th time this season to tie another club record set in 2000-01.

Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 27 shots for Calgary.

The Flames (35-28-15) have gone 1-3-3 in their past seven games and are three points behind the Kings with four games remaining.